The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, have pledged their support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its ongoing campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The two leaders made the commitment on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, when the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), led his team to Benin City as part of the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign.
Receiving Marwa and his delegation at the Government House, Benin City, Governor Okpebholo described illicit drugs as a major driver of criminal activities, including kidnapping, and called for collective efforts to tackle the menace.
The governor commended the NDLEA Command in Edo State for its efforts and assured the Agency of his administration’s readiness to collaborate with and support its operations.
He also praised Marwa, whom he said he had admired since his secondary school days.
In response, the NDLEA boss commended the governor’s developmental efforts and his commitment to combating illicit drugs in the state.
Marwa disclosed that the Agency was seeking the Edo State Government’s partnership in implementing its Alternative Development Programme, an initiative designed to encourage cannabis growers to abandon illicit cultivation for legal farming and sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that the programme, whose pilot phase commenced in Ondo State in January 2026, would be extended to Edo State, with farmers encouraged to cultivate crops such as cassava, yam, and maize.
Marwa stressed that the initiative would provide support through farm inputs and community infrastructure, including roads, schools, clinics, and water supply, with the involvement of the federal and state governments and the NDLEA.
The high point of the Government House visit was the decoration of Governor Okpebholo as a WADA Grand Ambassador in recognition of his commitment to the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking.
Marwa subsequently visited the Oba of Benin at his palace, where he sought the monarch’s support and blessing for the Agency’s anti-drug initiatives, particularly the Alternative Development Programme.
He described drug abuse as one of the three leading challenges confronting Nigeria, disclosing that more than 15 million Nigerians abuse drugs, a prevalence rate about three times the global average.
The NDLEA Chairman further revealed that the Agency arrested over 1,200 drug traffickers and seized more than 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in 2025.
He also declared that cannabis accounted for 75 per cent of the 16 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances seized nationwide by the Agency over the last five years.
Marwa called for greater involvement of traditional institutions, religious organisations, civil society groups, government, and the media in tackling drug abuse and trafficking, noting that the fight required a whole-of-society approach.
He acknowledged the Oba’s contributions to addressing social challenges, including human trafficking and kidnapping, and solicited the monarch’s support in discouraging drug cultivation and trafficking across communities in the Benin Kingdom.
Responding, Oba Ewuare II thanked Marwa for recognising the contributions of the Benin Kingdom and its people towards addressing drug abuse.
The monarch also disclosed that he had suggestions on how to improve the Agency’s operations, which he would communicate directly to the NDLEA boss in writing.
As part of the advocacy campaign in Edo State, Marwa also met with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), led by Comrade Saturday Oamen.
He urged transport union members to use their platforms to sensitise drivers and other members against drug abuse and trafficking, while supporting efforts to keep roads, motor parks, and communities free of illicit drugs.
Marwa is also scheduled to address religious and civil society leaders on Thursday, November 5, 2026, as part of the ongoing WADA advocacy activities in the state.
